How I Frame on a Budget
I know how I should frame my artwork. I should take it to a professional framing shop. There they will talk to me about the aesthetic I am looking for when framing my artwork. They’ll show me a variety of mat choices in different sizes and how a particular mat color can make different aspects of my painting pop. They’ll pull frames and show me how changing the mat and frame choice can completely change the feel of the artwork. And they will frame it behind archival glass, which will protect it from damaging ultraviolet light for decades to come. I have a couple things framed professionally and I wish I could do it with everything all the time.
But, let’s be real, I do not have the time or the money to do that with all (or even most of my paintings). I am a firm believer that art should get used, displayed, and enjoyed. Does this mean that the artwork might have a shorter lifespan, yes, but at the moment, I am not Monet or Picasso, so I’m not too worried about it. Sometimes having artwork up on the wall, even if it might not last for decades, is better than it languishing in a box somewhere.
Here is how I frame my paintings on a budget. Remember to do your own research for what will work best for your particular piece whether original art, an art print, etc. Professional framing behind archival glass is the best way to go, but if that isn’t an option, maybe an idea below will inspire you.
Buy a Frame that Comes with a Mat
Sure it’s obvious, but sometimes simple is the best option and many of my pieces of art are framed using a standard photo frame that you can find at a store like Michaels, Ikea, or Homegoods. Aesthetically, I usually go for a plain black frame with a white mat. It will make almost any painting look good. Before purchasing, always make sure to inspect the frame for any imperfections and any warping of the glass. After purchasing, I really clean the glass to remove any dirt. To make sure the artwork stays nice and snug against the mat and the frame, I will often use a bit of artist or photo tape to secure the painting in place.
Buy a Custom Mat
If you want to use a basic frame but give your painting a little special attention, consider a custom mat. A frame shop or a store like Michaels can do this for you, or you can even do it yourself by purchasing and cutting the mat board yourself. With a custom mat, you can choose a color that will make the colors in your painting pop a certain way. I also like a custom mat for when I have a piece of art that is a non-standard size or I want to use a much larger frame. It is pretty standard to have a 5x7 opening in an 8x10 frame that includes a mat. If you choose a custom mat, you could choose a 11x14 frame with an extra large mat to really highlight the painting and make it more of a statement piece on your wall.
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Floating Frame
I’m trying to do this less, but sometimes I complete paintings that are a random size, like a number of minis from the past summer. I discovered that I really like floating frames for these smaller paintings. These create a bit of an illusion that the painting is floating in space depending on the kind of frame you use. For my minis which are 3.25 x 4.5 (random I know), I found this floating frame for Michael, where the painting is sandwiched between a piece of glass and a piece of plastic. This particular frame is not my favorite, but up on the wall you do not notice the imperfections as much. The biggest challenge was getting the painting to be centered and straight within the frame. As a concept though, I really like it.
Once all of my paintings were up on the wall, I loved the overall result. This is now the first thing you see when you walk into our apartment and it’s right above my painting space.
In a perfect world, all of us would have our photos and pieces of art framed professionally with archival and museum grade materials, but for most of us, that is just not possible all the time or maybe ever. Remember that the purpose of art is for it to be seen and enjoyed. If you try one of these methods to frame your art this year, let me know. If you have another creative idea for how to display artwork, I would love to hear about it.